Men Should Stop Wearing Square-Toed Shoes

Some feel the shoes are unattractive and unfashionable (they've
been likened to Pilgrim's shoes), but
fans insist the shoes are more comfortable.

And when respected retailers continue to sell the footwear,
it's easy to see why men are confused.

We asked four leading style experts for their opinions about
square-toed shoes.

The verdict? A resounding "no."

Jake Davis, a photographer
and director known for his personal style, said the
shoes are "generally a sign of a douche, Wall Street type with
no sense of style."

"I do understand some corporate environments have dress codes
but there are plenty of stylish options out there to avoid the
notorious square toe," Davis told us.

Marcus Troy, who offers style advice to thousands of men on his
Twitter and blog,
cited some of the more comfortable options.

"Advancements in footwear design have bridged that gap between
function and fashion beautifully," Troy told us. "Brands like
Cole Haan have amalgamated Nike Lunar outsole technology with
brogues, wingtips, chukkas, and saddle shoes, making them more
awesome than ever before."

But Matthew Rubinger, style expert and director of luxury
accessories at Heritage
Auctions, told us that fans of the shoes can hold
out hope they'll come back in style.

"I personally would never wear square-toed shoes, which were
popular 15 to 20 years ago, and aren’t anymore," Rubinger said.
"But, who knows? Maybe they’ll come back, double-breasted suits
did!"